New Public Shooting Range Sees Over 44,000 Visitors in First Year (VIDEO)

A Missouri Department of Conservation shooting range opened outside of St. Louis has been very busy. The new August A. Busch Shooting Range in Defiance hosted 44,419 shooters during its first year of operation since it opened last October, MDC announced this month.

“All and all, it was a good first year,” said Busch Range Outdoor Education Center Manager Bryant Hertel, who noted a surge of first-time users in the weeks leading up to this November’s deer season.

About two out of three shooters used the rifle/pistol ranges while visitor surveys found that rifle use was most popular, followed closely by handguns. Additionally, the site hosted about 2,200 people during educational events.

Open five days a week, the range features 100-yard and 50-yard firearm ranges for benchrest or standing position shooters, two shotgun patterning ranges and five trap/skeet ranges. Costing $3 per booth per hour or per clay round, use of the range is free for hunting education, youth, and conservation-related programs.